WHAT ARE PARABLES?
WHY DID JESUS SPEAK IN PARABLES?
The Old Testament prophesied that the Messiah would speak in parables:
Psalm 78:1-2 1O my people, listen to my instructions. Open your ears to what I am saying, 2for I will speak to you in a parable. I will teach you hidden lessons from our past.
When the disciples asked Jesus why He spoke in parables, He responded:
Matthew 13:11-17 11He replied, “You are permitted to understand the secrets of the Kingdom of Heaven, but others are not. 12To those who listen to my teaching, more understanding will be given, and they will have an abundance of knowledge. But for those who are not listening, even what little understanding they have will be taken away from them…
JESUS WASN’T SAYING THERE’S NO WAY FOR PEOPLE TO UNDERSTAND THE KINGDOM OF HEAVEN.
A CHANGED HEART IS ALWAYS THE GOAL OF THE MESSAGE OF THE KINGDOM OF GOD!
JESUS WAS REFERENCING ISAIAH 6 BECAUSE OF WHAT HAPPENED IN MATTHEW 12.
THE SOWER
Matthew 13:1-9 1Later that same day Jesus left the house and sat beside the lake. 2A large crowd soon gathered around him, so he got into a boat. Then he sat there and taught as the people stood on the shore. 3He told many stories in the form of parables, such as this one: “Listen! A farmer went out to plant some seeds. 4As he scattered them across his field, some seeds fell on a footpath, and the birds came and ate them. 5Other seeds fell on shallow soil with underlying rock. The seeds sprouted quickly because the soil was shallow. 6But the plants soon wilted under the hot sun, and since they didn’t have deep roots, they died. 7Other seeds fell among thorns that grew up and choked out the tender plants. 8Still other seeds fell on fertile soil, and they produced a crop that was thirty, sixty, and even a hundred times as much as had been planted! 9Anyone with ears to hear should listen and understand.”
WITH PARABLES, THERE IS A CENTRAL TRUTH THAT IS BEIGN TAUGHT. WE DON’T GET TO CHOOSE OUR OWN MEANING.
THIS MESSAGE SHOULD CAUSE US TO LOOK AT OUR OWN LIVES.
WHERE DO YOU SEE YOURSELF WITH REGARD TO THE FOUR RESPONSES TO THE WORD?
QUESTIONS TO DISCUSS IN LIFE GROUP OR WITH YOUR FAMILY AND FRIENDS:
Passages to consider: Matthew 13:1-23; Mark 4:1-20; Luke 8:4-15